The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-31
LEADVILLL'S Mu2iLs.
THE CODE A CONDENSED ONP,
BUT STRICTLY ENFORCED.
Gambling "a an lndustry--fhe varl'
Gus Games-Big Winnings
The Board OF Trade.

fLosdyillo Csrrespondence Of the GLOBE
Democrat
Many people are under the impress:
,sioa that Leadville is very wicked
city. This is mistake. Leadville
has its morals and its vices, and the
relations between them are some
what peculiar. But the city as a
whole is not very wicked" 1t is
submitted without argument that a
community which sends the presi-
dent of its First National Bank to
the penitentiary Tor ten years cannot
be said TO be without considerable
moral tone. Leadville did just that
with a man who had betrayed
trust, and SO far has resolutely re-
fused to join in a sentimental move.
ment for a pardon. An assayer Of
good position, who had loaned his
science TO conspiracy Tor stealing
rich ore, followed the banker dovn
the Grand Canyon and into retire
ment behind the bars. Mine officials
and others have gone the same way
for pluudering employers. The
blindfo,ded goddess upon the roof OF
the courthouse is Of Amazonian pro-
portions, and the scales she balances
over Harrison avenue are not doc
tored. The Leadviile code is not an
extensive one, but justice follows
swih and sure upon infractioDs Of it.
Having decided to tolerate gam.
bling, Leadville does SO in the most
open handed manner. Some of the
best locations on the avenue are
given up to the votaries OF tickle
fortune. There is none of the hypo-
erisy of. half drawn blinds. The
doors are thrown wide open, and
from the street can be seen at any
time the green tables surrounded by
the players, while the click OF the
chips aud the bawling of the man at
the keno goose fall upon the ears Of
the passer by. Gambling In Lead
Vile is a business. "Our running
expenses" said Con Featherly, one
Of the proprietors Of the Texas, ARE
$500 a month. When the house
otened, in 1879, it ran bahind steadi-
" for six months, and came pretty
near going under. Then it took a
turn for the better and ran ahead.
If we take in $4,000 or $4,000 q
msnth we are pretty we'll satisfied.
That pays running expenses and
leaves margin for profit"
Mr.. Featherly sat in any easy chair
upholstered in stamped leather, with
his feet pressing deep into the Brus-
sells carpet, as he talked interesting.
ly about the business. On the walls
were oil paintings, not of loud type
but choice enough for any parlor,
The green covered tables aud the
paraphernalis Of the various games
alone gave the place away. One
mans money is as good as another's
or, to use the oft repeated words
Everything goes in Texas"
Down stairs there is the bar or
one side, gorgeous with its mammoth
mirror and its array OF cut glass. A
lunch counter Just across the way il
also doing business. On blackboard
are displayed the scores OF the day
baseball games, the results Of tn,
races and the grain and stock quota
lions from the East. To the RICH
is room with half a dozen games o
faro in progress, aud open to al
corners. Back of the faro room i
the business Office" Of the estab
lishment. Thea comes long, higl
chamber, where a hundred men try
hour after hour, 10 pat five button
in q row on a numbered card, Will
loud voiced young man whirls tn
goose and calls out the number OF
each little ball as it falls into hi
hand. There are electrical device
TO show at a glance the exact numbe
OF cards taken out and the conse
auent pot to go % the holder OF III
winning card. This is keno. II
the popular game, and th
noisy one as well, so the play
ers arc shut into a big roor
by themselves. Each hour from
in the evening till 4 in the mornin
there is prize roll" and the hous
adds $40 TO the pot TO stimulate IN
playing. When the prize roll
comes Of every place at the Ion
table is taken aud every card is ou
The room is quiet while the lttl
numbered balls are drawn from IN
urn. Each player bends over hi
card and buttons" the numbers
called. When a player lays dow
his fifth button in one row he Civ,
the table big thunp aud shou
"Kenol" The others all mute
something else, and about half
them get up aud 20 out TO wait Il
the next prize roll. Tho winnin
, card is proved up and the player r,
oeiyos the money 10 the pot aud the 81
premium. Then commence the pref
aratious for the next roll. The carr
are 10 cents a piece, aud the hou
reimburses itself for furnishing Il
amusement by taking Is per cen
out Of each pot. The sure THU
about keno is that a man has only
play II long enough TO empty b
pockets.
But faro and keno are only two
the games which the Texas proyid
for It's patrons. Adjoining the kel
room the roulette has its corner, a,
pleasant faced man whirls d
wheel and the marble in the opposi
directions, reciting in a low, wei
modulated voice: BLACK or re
odd or even, high or low. Thirt
Eve for asinglc number. Round al
round the little ball goes. Roll il I
yourself Of you like" Roulette, d
great game OF the European resor
is not popular in Leadville. N,
and then young Jlerk or "a labori
man will stop and risk dollar on {
back or red, but tho play is seldC
heavy. Thu fact is the wheel
rather under suspicion in the w,
tern country. Stuart gamblers ha
been able TO fix il up
magnetism and electrical CT
rents 30 that the little mari
found its way too often TO the sins
0 or the double 90, both OF viii
sweep the board Tor the house. Nc
leans like roulette, but America
rive IL n wide berth Tho dica ,ah